The design collaboration between Andrea Colombo (interested in iconic cars) and Linda Assandri (passionate about Swarovski and glam details) led to the development of the Glamour Beetle Armchair. The duo from ZAC Glamour Design launched a unique approach to furniture, combining Baroque elements and Car Art. In the case of the armchair presented in the photos below, the designers used real Volkswagen Beetle MY1968 wings and an upholstered chair with Swarovski crystals and LED lights. The unconventional furniture piece also comes with solid finishes in in silver leaf or gold leaf (available in real gold 24 kt. / or real silver), produced by a highly qualified Italian craftsmen team. With a flashy, easily noticeable look, the Glamour Beetle fits well in a modern bachelor’s crib or a public space with a unique personality. Where would you place it? [...]

In designing this ultramodern penthouse in affluent Shenzhen building, designers from Kokaistudios had goal to connect city living with the nature without sacrificing luxury and comfort. Original penthouse layout was significantly modified, and the end result is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Photos: Kokaistudios [...]

ecotechdesign has just completed a completely off-the-grid shipping container hybrid house and photo studio in Joshua Tree, which is located in California’s Mojave desert. The project combines high-efficiency construction methods with smart design, which means that consumers now have an option beyond prefabricated homes. ecotechdesign offers sustainable, recycled, and affordable habitats that are generally much more accessible than past prefabricated options. They like to call it “uncontained” living. Also known as The Tim Palen Studio at Shadow Mountain, the hybrid home is a 2nd generation kit-like house that is an alternative to pre-fab homes. The hybrid house design is based on the Prius automobile engineering concept: combining pre-engineered building and energy conservation with custom design options and flexibility. The basic home is made from recycled steel ISO containers, a Butler pre-engineered building, a 10,000 gallon steel water tank, and a metal shade canopy wi [...]

Car body parts been used to construct unusual and ultramodern furniture since the beginning of automobile. Italian company Tavomatico are continuing the tradition but with a little twist. In 2012 they introduced line of tire coffee tables in array of color combinations. Tires have been fabricated and refinished to make them odorless, and top/bottom plexiglass covers create easy accessible storage space. Coaster wheels makes tables easy to move around. Option of colors is plentiful for any modern space, see for yourself - Tavomatico. For more information please visit Tavomatico [...]

The spiral-shaped house designed by Olavi Kopose in Espoo, Finland is definitely something you don’t get to see everyday. Its curvy “silhouette” dominates every room in the house, “forcing” the inhabitants to adopt a …(let’s call it) twisty lifestyle. As expect, the furniture has its own particularities. The tables are curvy, the sofa, the kitchen furniture and of course, the stairs, they all are adapted to the house’s intriguing structure. There are no doors. This creates a special atmosphere, a living environment characterised by breeziness and fluidity. The exterior is wrapped in wood cladding. A large cut out defines the outline of the balcony, located at the upper floor. The spiral-shaped house comes also “equipped” with a small terrace, where you can sit and enjoy your morning coffee. There is no doubt that this is a unique living space, ideal for those who feel like regular can’t satisfy their outstanding tastes. The good news, for those in search of a dar [...]

Industrial facility's 'Locale' living office furniture system for Herman Miller creates a dynamic high-performance work space. At NEOCON 2013--the international event for the contract furniture industry--a common theme which resurfaced was the ability for office products to seamlessly shift from functioning as individual work spaces to open-plan environments. industrial facility's (Sam Hecht and Kim Colin) 'Locale Office' for Herman Miller is evidence of this, a system formed by a number of elements which encourages unexpected interactions, allowing employees to freely transition between private and collaborative activities. [...]

A few months ago we wrote about a couple of Stephen Shaheen's humorous yet strange sculptures that adorn lightbulb heads. We get such a kick out of his work, we've decided to feature a few more of the Brooklyn-based sculptor's collection. The one that stands out the most is aptly titled Let's Put Our Heads Together (above). It features three blue men bent over with their heads collectively in the middle. They appear to be trying to help each other with their plugs and perhaps pointing at something on the ground. [...]

Rectangular volumes, a simple design line and a glossy interior. A one-of-a-kind home. This is how would I describe The Summit House, a residential project designed by Habitat Studio & Workshop in Edmonton, Canada. The house accommodates fine pieces of artwork, a wide relaxing terrace and a “recharge-your-batteries” type of back courtyard. The best thing about this house are definitely the views and the tranquil atmosphere. There’s a green turf in front and a few trees, guiding you towards the house’s entrance. [...]